ZRA raids Post for alleged tax malpractice

The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), Investigations Department, yesterday raided and conducted a search at The Post Newspapers after receiving information alleging tax malpractice by the Newspaper.
This was after the information received was evaluated and a decision was made to undertake full scale tax investigations so as to prove or disprove the allegations leveled against the Post Newspaper.
According to a statement made available to QFM News last evening, as per procedure a search warrant was obtained by ZRA to search and collect relevant business records for subsequent examinations by the investigators.

The statement says however, the Post Newspapers obtained a stay of execution against the action of ZRA in a related matter in which the Authority issued a warrant of distress on the Newspaper in November, 2015 seeking the payment of about 9 million kwacha outstanding tax payment, the action which prompted ZRA to seek clarification on extent of the stay.
It says the court clarified that the stay did not cover the matters that were not before the court; therefore, ZRA has thus proceeded with its planned normal Investigations process whose findings will be discussed with the taxpayer.
The statement clarifies that the current Investigation of the Post Newspaper is a normal process that ZRA undertakes on all taxpayers that are alleged to be involved in tax malpractices.
It furthermore states that these investigations are conducted in accordance with ZRA core values which include Professionalism, Integrity, Fairness and Equity among others.